1. So what is Simulink?
Simulink is a MATLAB tool for analyzing dynamic systems. It makes use of block diagram representations of a given system, providing the user with a library of components for building the model in question. The user then runs the simulation and is able to record, both graphically and numerically, the transient variation in the system output.
The block diagram format of Simulink makes it particularly attractive for analyzing control systems. In fact, the various libraries of Simulink components include many elements common to process control loops: process transfer functions, PID controllers, transportation lag elements, gains, step functions, sine wave inputs, and so on.
The following notes illustrate how you can use Simulink to build models of process control systems and then use these to analyze the process response under a range of operating conditions. But first, let's provide some needed background information.